Feb. 25, 2011
COLLEGE STATION - The 14th-ranked Texas A&M men's tennis team will host a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 27 at the George P. Mitchell Tennis Center as 36th-ranked LSU comes to Aggieland at 1 p.m. and the UTA Mavericks face the Aggies at 6 p.m.
Texas A&M is 7-3 after beating TCU, 7-0, in Fort Worth on Wednesday as every singles match ended in a two-set sweep. The LSU Tigers come to College Station with a 3-4 record after dropping a 4-1 decision to Wake Forest in their last outing. The UTA squad is 2-3 entering a Saturday match at home against Utah before the Mavericks come to Aggieland.
“LSU has always been a very tough opponent for A&M and I expect this match to be no different,” Aggie head coach Steve Denton said. “I feel like we are beginning to build some momentum so this is a very important match for us to come out with a lot of energy and determination against a very tough SEC team. It is another opportunity for us to build on what we are trying to accomplish as a team.”
LSU is paced by Neal Skupski, ranked No. 88 in the latest ITA rankings. The Tiger doubles duo of Skupski and Sebastian Carlsson is ranked No. 14 in the land.
“The doubleheader this weekend will continue to allow us to test the depth of our team,” Denton explained. “Several guys will face the adversity of playing two singles matches in one day. UTA is the favorite in the Southland Conference and we know they will come in here and play hard. This is a great opportunity for some of our other guys to step up and produce and as always gives them very valuable playing time and an opportunity for myself and Coach (Bob) McKinley to continue evaluating their progress.”
The senior All-American doubles team of Jeff Dadamo (Tampa, FL) and Austin Krajicek (Brandon, FL), currently ranked No. 1 in the country, has posted a 6-1 record in dual matches this spring including a win against the No. 2-ranked doubles team from Texas.
The Aggies will take to the road again next week as they travel to face the 26th-ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday, Mar. 4 and then further north to Madison, Wisconsin, and the 40th-ranked Badgers of Wisconsin on Sunday, Mar. 6.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE:
Sunday, Feb. 27 vs. LSU 1 pm vs. UTA 6 pm
Friday, Mar. 4 at Notre Dame 6 pm
Sunday, Mar. 6 at Wisconsin 2 pm